U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) faces a press conference ahead of a potential budget vote at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 11, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
House Republicans passed a stopgap bill Tuesday afternoon to fund the government until October and avert a potential government shutdown.
The final vote on the bill legislation took place at 4 p.m. Eastern Time.
The legislation keeps federal agencies funded through Sept. 30 and increases defense spending by $6 billion. It additionally would reduce non-defense spending by $13 billion compared to the 2024 budget year.
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The bill's prospects in the GOP-led Senate remain murky, as that chamber also has a slim Republican majority.
Friday remains the deadline to fund the government. If no action is taken by then, non-essential government functions would be suspended until Congress intervenes.
Jake Sherman of PunchBowl News called the resolution's passage a "big win" for House Speaker Mike Johnson. The bill had one Democrat vote in favor, and just one Republican vote against — Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY).
Democrats have attacked the legislation, arguing it lacks explicit funding guidance for numerous programs and creates "slush funds" for the Trump administration to manipulate spending priorities.
'“This creates slush funds for the Trump administration to reshape spending priorities, eliminate longstanding programs, pick winners and losers, and more,” according to a fact sheet released by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, according to Politico.